This novel is very close to my heart. I am thoroughly enjoying this journey of writing a blind character meeting Michael Myers, even more so basing her off me. I hope you enjoy reading it as much too! I am more than happy to answer any questions you might have about life as a blind person. All Danielle's likes, dreams and so on are mine. As is her fifteen percent survival rate. The rest is fictitious. Yes, in case you're wondering, ears and whistling are my real likes! I also can't deny I am fascinated by the death penalty and also completely agree with it for some crimes so just had to incorporate it into this story.
I first met Michael Myers when I read the audio novel of the 2018 Halloween movie. Something about him fascinated me. His silence especially. I can't say why but I found it kind of sexy if I'm honest. His lack of remorse, Feeling.
As a result, I then started wondering, how would he react if he encountered a totally blind person like me? Would he kill me on the spot? Or would my vulnerability reach him? That was the question which inspired me to write this in the first place. Jason Vorhees killed a paralysed guy in a wheelchair because he came on to his land. Myers doesn't seem to have a particular motive for his kills, it's just what he does. So, would meeting a disabled person make him think twice? He didn't kill the baby in the 2018 movie, and he could've done. Possibly a small glimpse of humanity from the masked killer?
My next step was to consider the circumstances and background I'd use for this story, and I decided on Smith's Grove. A blind woman there who's badly psychologically damage placed next door to Myers. How would they interact? Would he just ignore, try to kill, or protect her?
Just one thing, I know full well iPhones didn't exist in 1998 when this story is set, but I don't think it's too unbelievable to pretend they did, which is why I'm including them. Owning an iPhone, myself I know how she would use it which makes it easier to write. I wanted to give a little background for you before you started reading. Thanks for giving your time to check out my story! I really hope you like it, and reviews are always really appreciated! Thanks!
Acknowledgements: Thanks to Pixie who helped me write the court scenes, and my editor ATKQ who's helping me edit this from scratch. Also of course to John Carpenter and the gang for allowing me to borrow Michael Myers and Dr Samuel Loomis for the duration of this fanfic. Sadly, I have to give them back at the end!
WARNING: Please be aware this story contains scenes some readers may find distressing, such as rape, death, attempted suicide, domestic abuse and graphic violence.
Whistle-78
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Full summary: As a totally blind teenager is committed to Smith's Grove having attempted suicide after horrific domestic abuse, the staff realise to their horror that the only cell available is the one right next door to none other than a silent, masked, infamous serial killer. The Shape, Michael Myers. But as time passes, something slowly begins to form between the two. Mutual respect? Trust? Or something more? Meanwhile on the outside, her abuser has far from given up his campaign of harassing, tormenting and controlling her. Even while she's recovering he won't let her do so unscathed. He considers her purely as his property and has absolutely no intention of letting her go. Now inside Smith's Grove, she's also surrounded by dangerous men. Will she end up on the cold blooded killer's hit list or cause him to protect rather than attack her, by doing what all thought impossible and finding her way into his heart?
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Chapter 1: Drop to death.
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Nigel Manning was used to hearing the couple next door shouting at each other or more accurately, him shouting at her. He knew the guy from having lived next door to him for three years and really wished he didn't. His name was Adam Dawson, and it was clear that the man was a spiteful, misogynistic prick who got his kicks from openly degrading and abusing women. Nigel had lost count of the amount of times he'd seen Dawson coming home with a different girl on his arm, only for her to leave around 2 to 3AM, proving Dawson wanted only to fuck them and then kick them out. Nigel had given several a lift home due to the time of night. It'd only made him hate Dawson even more. He didn't care about women's safety, just the sex. It was clear he regarded women purely as sex toys and he made no attempt to hide it. Nigel had even tried to call the police, but they'd told him what he'd known deep down was true, that didn't stop him from trying though. Because Adam wasn't actually breaking the law, there was nothing they could do unless he did.
Nigel had lived in the same house for three years with his wife Sophie who had died six months ago. Ever since the guy arrived, they had quickly discovered he was a Grade A prick. Sophie had shouted at him constantly to slow down while he would barrel down the street. He drove like a maniac, and they lived near a school. Did he want to kill a child? He'd totally ignored her, and Nigel knew why. Because she was a woman. So, he'd called the police and they had pulled Dawson over and warned him about his speed. For all the good it'd done.
Then Danielle had moved in with Dawson and Nigel's heart sank. A blind woman with an asshole like that? He wanted to warn her, but knew it wasn't his place. She didn't even know him and would probably see him as the nosy old neighbour from hell. He knew how abuse worked. She wouldn't believe or trust him. He assumed Dawson had met Danielle at college, and his dislike of the man deepened even further. She was vulnerable and of course the bastard knew it, easy pray. It made his heart ache.
Sophie had cared about Danielle too, describing her as the daughter they'd never had. She was always trying to talk to her, make her tea and help, but she was always so quiet. Both he and Sophie believed Adam Dawson was abusing her, but she never mentioned it. He'd had the impression Sophie was working up to asking her soon, but before she got the chance, she'd gotten sick and had to be hospitalized. Everything had changed when she'd died of cancer. Danielle had somehow found out and brought him some homemade meals. That night, he'd had to sit there and listen to the prick yelling at her for wasting 'his' money on food for that 'old fucker next door.' Adam hated him because of the driving thing figuring he'd called the police, and he hated Adam because of his downright barbaric treatment of women.
From then on, he and Danielle had talked. Her "boyfriend" was a self-employed contractor so while he was working, she would stop by nearly every day. Finally, she'd broken down and told him the truth. It turned out he'd been right all along. The bastard was controlling having taken her money, not letting her work, she had to stay at home and wait on him hand and foot. If Dawson knew she was talking to him he'd lose his mind. He'd tried to encourage her to call for help, but she'd just smiled and shaken her head sadly at him.
He'd seen her cooking and had to admire how quickly she'd learned all on her own. He'd heard Dawson shouting at her once for burning his dinner and had almost called the police for her, or at the very least banged on the door and told the guy to fuck himself. But he couldn't. He knew only too well the harm that would cause her. She would be the one in danger not him if he did that. So, he'd had to wait, much to his utter frustration.
He'd asked her recently why she hadn't left him. She'd given him that sad smile again and said, 'he made me happy once.' He'd asked how and she'd said he was once kind and made her feel special. That was when she'd told him of her love of whistling. How she knew when he himself was around because he always whistled when gardening or along with the radio and she heard him through their open windows in hot weather. He'd hugged her and she'd rested her head on his shoulder. She'd previously told him how her parents had abandoned her because she was blind. "I love you Nige," she'd said then and he'd had to blink back tears, holding her as tightly as he could. "I love you too," he'd said and meant it.
But tonight, Dawson had finally gone too far. He had always trusted his instincts and knew something bad was happening worse than usual. Watching through his living room window, he saw Danielle emerge from the house and head straight for the garage. That set off the first alarm bell. She was totally blind, and Dawson had dangerous power tools in there which he didn't want her getting hurt by.
He hurried out of his house and set off towards the garage, worry rising in him. What the hell was going on? Maybe the prick had sent her to get a tool for him, not caring if she got hurt? That as far as he was concerned was too far. Then he saw Dawson coming out of the house following behind her quietly. Anger spiked in his chest. The bastard was using her blindness against her and to his advantage. He was about to step forward and confront the spineless worm, when he saw her climb onto an old wooden chair then what she was holding in her hand. A long length of rope. Panic rose in his chest. He broke into a run, just as her so-called 'boyfriend' closed and locked the door. He put the key in his pocket and headed back towards the house as if he hadn't seen that she was even in there. The son of a bitch was even whistling! Cruel irony.
He raced back to his house and grabbed a sledgehammer and a large knife although he'd have to resist the urge to murder Dawson with it. As he ran back towards the garage next to his, Dawson came out of the house again carrying a vicious looking machete. He saw Nigel and stopped in his tracks. Nigel fought with everything he had to keep his mouth shut. He would see this bastard sent down but had to pretend he was none the wiser until the police arrived.
Now Dawson was standing in front of the door, half-heartedly hacking at it with the machete. But he knew they both knew it wouldn't work. He was just doing it for show. In reality he was trying to block him from reaching the door. He tried not to hate anyone, but right then he did, and he wanted to strangle the bastard. I swear to God, he thought. If he doesn't move, I might just use this goddam knife on him after all!
"Out of the way!" He snapped at Dawson, raising the sledgehammer. "Unless you want this put through your fucking head!"
"I…" Adam stammered. "I'm trying to break down the door. I… I think she's…"
Yeah, which is why you locked it and put the key in your pocket, he thought with another stab of hatred. That's why you were fucking whistling as you walked away! You're lying motherfucker. You want her to die.
Without saying anything further, he raised the sledgehammer and swung it right into the garage door, just as there was a loud crash inside. They knew Danielle had just jumped from the chair and didn't have to think too hard as to why. He smashed the sledgehammer against the door again. Once, twice. The door caved in, and he forced himself through. The sight that greeted him made him blink back tears. He'd been right. She was hanging by her neck, the chair now knocked over. Dawson was standing there frozen in shock, but he knew he was faking. He'd wanted this to happen which was why he'd locked the door. He even wondered if the machete was to finish the job if the rope didn't work. Bile rows in his throat. He didn't think, he just acted, almost on autopilot. He sprinted over, stood on the chair and began cutting the rope as quickly as he could. Fortunately, the knife was sharp, and it didn't take long for him to cut the knot she'd tied to one of the wooden slats above her head.
Adam had already run back towards his house, but he knew he wouldn't call an ambulance or the police. Of course not, seeing as he'd locked the fucking door knowing she was inside. As he carefully lowered her to the ground, he noticed a deep cut running across her right cheek which was bleeding profusely. He also saw that her trousers were ripped. That goddamn bastard had raped her; he was certain of it.
Pulling out his phone he dialled 911 for the police and an ambulance. Within five minutes they were there. Danielle was loaded onto a stretcher. He had administered basic first aid as best as he could until the paramedics arrived. He'd made sure she was still breathing which she was. She appeared to be unconscious. Thank Christ he'd acted so fast. As the ambulance sped off, he gave the police his statement. He watched, with a feeling of immense satisfaction as Dawson was handcuffed and arrested. Hope they throw away the key, he thought savagely. That you rot in hell you abusive bastard!
When he got back to his house the tears finally did come. Danielle had lived there for the past and he'd taken her under his wing without planning to do so. He'd helped her out whenever she needed it but only if she asked him to. He knew how independent she was and wanted to be. She'd told him she'd met Dawson at college but had never talked about anything that was happening at home until last week. He was certain that more than once she'd wanted to and had come close to confiding in him, but she was clearly too afraid of Dawson. He could only hope now she was free of him for good. No one deserved to be with a man like that.
But if he could've read the thoughts of the man now sitting cuffed in the back of the cop car, he would've been terrified. She was far from free. The guy was already planning his revenge and how to make her suffer things he would never have believed.
